Verticle
Rate itWordle sideways: each guess is coloured against the letter in the same column of the answer below it.
on verticle.netlify.app
Verticle is a Wordle variant where the colours work by column instead of by row. Picture the answer sitting in the bottom row: each letter you guess is compared with the answer's letter in that column position. You have six tries, and the sixth is spelled across and coloured the usual way.
About Verticle
Verticle is an open-source twist on the five-letter guessing game, made by Compsciler as one of several Wordle variants. It has a daily word, plus Unlimited and Speedrun modes for more play, and settings for a hard mode, a dark mode and high contrast colours. Its code has been on GitHub since May 2022.
The twist is in how the clues read. You still type five-letter words, but the colours describe each column rather than each guess. Imagine the solution placed in the bottom row of the grid: a green tile means that letter is the answer's letter in that column position, a yellow tile means the letter is in the answer but not in that position, and grey means it is not in the answer at all.
Because each guess contributes one clue per column, you have to read the grid vertically to see what you have learned about each position. If you reach the sixth guess, it is spelled horizontally and coloured the normal way, giving a last familiar chance.
It suits Wordle players who want the same word skills with a puzzle that makes them think about the grid differently.
How to play Verticle
- Type a five-letter word and press Enter.
- Read the colours by column: each tile is compared with the answer's letter in that position.
- Green means right letter in that position, yellow means in the word but not there, grey means not in the word.
- Use what you learn about each column to choose the next guess.
- Find the word within six tries; the sixth is coloured the normal way.
Screenshots
Tips
- Keep a mental note of which letters are ruled out for each column separately.
- Grey letters are out of the word entirely, so drop them from every column.
- Use early guesses to test common letters in different positions.
Questions
Is Verticle a daily game?
Yes. There is one daily word, the same for everyone, and also Unlimited and Speedrun modes.
When does the daily word change?
At midnight by your own device's clock.
How is it different from Wordle?
The colours apply by column to the answer's letter in that position, as if the answer were in the bottom row, until the sixth guess.
Can I play it on a phone?
Yes, it runs in a phone browser, though the keyboard fills the full width of a small screen and the game itself recommends playing on a PC.
Is it free?
Yes, with no ads and no sign-up, and its code is open source on GitHub.
Ratings and reviews
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